3 Reasons Online Political Discourse Is Important

Do you ever sign onto Facebook or Twitter and feel overwhelmed by the barrage of political mudslinging, jokes (not always in good taste), and opinions? The same feelings can arise when looking at the reader comments that follow blogs and political articles. However, some of this political discourse online is actually important!

According to the Pew Research Center, 82 percent of Internet users looked for information or completed a transaction on a government website in 2010. Almost half of Internet users (48%) have looked for information about a public policy or issue online. In my opinion, these numbers will continue to increase.

But whether political discourse is conducted via Twitter, online polling or surveys, or within the blogosphere, there are three great reasons why it's important:

1. Political discourse online allows for deeper dissection of opinions and issues compared to what the mass media typically provides.

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According to a study by Topix, 27 percent of Internet users reported participating in political discussions or debates online. Eighty-one percent of these users cited dissecting issues in greater depth than traditional media as the main reason they participate online.

This leads us to the growing distrust of our mass media today. As of last month, 60 percent of Americans reported not trusting the mass media to report accurate and unbiased information. Political discourse online allows the public to read and view mainstream news reports followed by the opinions of others, thus receiving a wider view on current issues.

2. Political discourse and opinion polling impacts the state of political campaigns.

Because a portion of political polling occurs online today, our participation in online polls and surveys can make an impact. And politicians are listening - usually. You can check out the Reuters poll here to see what I'm talking about. Reuters has polled 11,000 people each month about the presidential race and other issues. USA TODAY and Gallup also consistently run polls on the state of political opinion.

But it doesn't stop at polling. If our politicians are running good campaigns, they will constantly monitor both media and public perceptions. This includes reactions expressed via mainstream media such as newspapers, magazines, and television networks, and outlets on the Internet.

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3. Political discourse online encourages political activism in the real-world, especially among younger generations.

Adults ages 18 to 29 typically have lower voter registration and voter turnout rates. In fact, 63 percent of 18 to 29 year olds plan to vote this year, which is down from 72 percent in 2008. But, In contrast, political discourse online is much higher for this group, likely because they are the first generation to grow up communicating on the Internet.

Because of this, Internet users, especially younger generations, are more likely to participate in political activities, such as watch political videos, share election-related content, "fact check" political claims, and even participate in political activities on a daily basis.

As Americans increasingly use the Internet and social media to seek out political information, political discourse online will rise. Politicians have added online platforms such as social media, blogs, and online forums to their communications toolbox, so let's help them listen by using these tools actively and respectfully.

Are there other reasons political discourse is important online?

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Rand Strauss is the President and CEO of PeopleCount.org, a nonpartisan organization that enables the public to communicate constructively by taking stands on political issues influencing the country today. Connect with Rand and PeopleCount.org on Twitter and Facebook.